Raghunandana Thakura

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February 6th, 2003, Thursday (Pancami)

Appearance day of Srila Raghunandana Thakura

 

 

RAGHUNANDANA THAKURA

 

Sri Mukunda Das, MadhaVA Das and Sri Narahari Sarakara Thakura were

three brothers who lived in the village of Sri Khanda. Raghunandana was the

son of Sri Mukunda Das. [CC Madhya 15]

 

In the house of Sri Mukunda Das, who lives at Sri Khanda, Lord Sri

Gopinatha is served with great attention.

 

One day Mukunda had to go out for some specific work so he called

his son Raghunandana and asked him to serve Lord Gopinatha that day.

Raghunandana was only a small child at that time so his father carefully

explained to him, "This Deity is in our family for many generations. He has

been worshipped by my father and his father before him, and his father, on

and on in this way for so many years. Just as your mother feeds you and I

everyday, so also He has to be fed everyday."

 

He explained to Raghunandana that this is a very big responsibility

and he should be very careful to give his full attention to this service.

Then Mukunda went out.

 

Raghunandana collected the items for offering to Sri Gopinathaji and

entered into the Deity room. Raghunandana was at that time barely 5 years

old. He tried to offer the bhoga as he had seen his father do but when he

looked up after reciting some prayers he saw that the bhoga was still there.

When he saw that Gopinatha hadn't eaten the offering after he had imitated

his father's offering procedure as best as he could remember, he became very

worried. His father had impressed upon him the importance of this service

and now he could understand that he wasn't doing it properly, and that his

father would be displeased. Ultimately he simply requested Gopinatha with

tears in his eyes, "Eat! Eat!"

 

Gopinatha became completely subjected by Raghunandana's simple

request, made entirely in love, and thus He stealthily ate up everything

without leaving any remnants.

 

After some time Raghunandana's father, Mukunda, returned and asked

his son if he had done as he was told? When his son replied "Yes", then

Mukunda asked him to bring some of the prasadam. Raghunandana replied,

"Prasadam? I offered everything just like you told me, and Gopinatha ate

everything. So what should I bring you now?"

 

Mukunda was completely taken aback. "This boy is not naughty and is

always accustomed to speak the truth. I doubt if he would have eaten

everything. I wonder what actually happened?"

 

Musing on this matter in his mind for some days, his curiosity

remained unsatisfied even after a few days time had elapsed. He got an idea

and so again requested Raghunandana to offer the bhoga to Gopinatha on that

day. Raghunandana was very excited to hear this request and replied that he

would be more than happy to make the offering since he liked to do that

service so much.

 

On this day however, after going out of the house, he again came in

by another way and remained hiding in one place.

 

Raghunandana was very happy to be able to serve Sri Gopinathaji

again. He brought everything into the Deity room and as before, he again

very insistently persuaded Gopinatha to take his meal. As Gopinatha had

eaten half of a laddu, he espied Mukunda standing in the doorway. He didn't

try to cover up the fact that he had eaten what he had, but neither did he

eat any more.

 

Seeing all this Mukunda was completely immersed in ecstatic love and

picked up his son and put him on his lap. Again and again he extolled his

virtues in a voice trembling with ecstasy, all the while torrents of tears

of joy falling from his eyes. Even today, those who are greatly fortunate

can still see that half-eaten laddu in Gopinatha's lotus hand. Thus Sri

Uddhava das sings the glories of Raghunandana, who is non-different from

Madana (Cupid).

 

Raghunandana was present at the Kheturi festival.

 

In Krsna-lila he was Kandarpa Manjari and/or the priya narma sakha Ujjval.

 

In Dvaraka-lila he was Sri Krsna's son Kandarpa (Pradyumna).

 

Raghunandana's son is Kanai Thakura. His descendants are still

residing at Sri Khanda. Sri Khanda can be easily reached from Katwa by bus

or train.

 

Raghunandana Thakura was born in the year 1432 of the Sakabda era.

He appeared on the first day of Spring, Vasanta-pancami. His disappearance

is on the fourth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Sravana.